Automatic coin-controlled electrically operated step-by-step mechanism



AUTOMATIC COIN-CONTROLLED ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STEP-BY-S' IEP MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR. ROBERT/Q W/Tf/E/FEAL ATTORNEY.

Aug. 19, 1941. R; WS' THERELL.

CONTROLLED ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED STEP-BYSTEP MECHANISM AUTOMATIC COIN Filed May 5. 1938 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 fm m M 4 ATTORNEY.

g-1 9 R. R. WITHERELL.

AUTOMATIC COIN-CONTROLLED ELECTRICALLY OPERATED STEP-BY-STER MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' BY M A TTORNEY.

Aug. 1941- R. R. WITHERELL. 2,252,825

'AUTOMATI C CO IN- CONTROLLED ELECTRI CALLY OPERATED STEP-BY- STEP MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY @M ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 AUTOMATIC COIN-CONTROLLED ELECTRI- CALLY OPERATED STEP-BY-STEP MECH- ANISM Robert R. Withercll, Bloomington, 111., assignor to Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating Corporation, Bloomington, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 5, 1938, Serial No. 206,115

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic coin-controlled electrically operated stepby-step mechanism particularly adapted for use in connection with a cabinet for containing and vending articles one at a time after the depositing of a coin therein. 1

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to the accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention with the understanding that detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the motor housing and easing containing the motor operated and coin-controlled mechanism in position upon a dispensing cabinet containing a rotatable turn table which is advanced one step each time the motor operates in response to the depositing of a coin in the casing.

Figure 2 is, a view in section of the coin-controlled and switching mechanism taken on the line .2-2, Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the positions assumed by the parts before a coin has closed thefirst switch. ,Figure 3 Ba similar view taken on the line 33 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the reverse side of the switch carrying plate and a coin having been received to close the first switch.

Figure 4 is a detail view in section taken on the line 4-4, Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the position assumed by the, parts after the pin ID has been rotated through 180 degrees.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail View in section taken on the line 55, Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the relation of the cams and indexingpin after both switches have been closed.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail view taken in section onthe line B- -li of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the switches and their wiring connections to each other and to the motor illustrating the first switch closed by the reception of a coin and the second switch open.

Figure 8 isa similar view illustrating the first and positioning mechanism of commercial form. The motor housing 1 extends below the motor to enclose a train of gears for operating a stepby-step mechanism. As shown in Figure 1, the casing 2 engages the side 4 of a dispensing cabinet with the motor housing resting upon the top 5 thereof with the step-by-step operating mechanism passed through an aperture 6 provided in the top. In this type of dispensing cabinet a rotatable turn table 1 is mounted to support the articles to be dispensed and advance them step by step tothe dispensing aperture in the cabinet. In this form the turn table is provided with a scalloped periphery formed by similar concentric concave arcs 8 equally spaced apart between similar radial slots 9, as shown in Figure 4. The step-by-step mechanism includes an indexing pin I0 mounted upon a disc secured to the lower end of a sleeve l2 rotatably mounted and retained upon a stud 13 depending from the under side of the motor housing I. The pin I0 is located on the disc II in such a manner that each time the disc is rotated, the pin is engaged in a radial slot 9 and imparts a step in the movement of the turn table. As shown in Figures 1,, the plate II is arranged below the periphery of the turn table I, and in order to lock the turn table against movement afterit has been disengaged by the pin 10, a similar plate H is provided having an integral depending spacer I4 concentric with the plate II and having a radius concentric with the radius of the arcuate-scallops 8. The plate ll is provided with an aperture passing therethrough for receiving the pin l0, and the spacer I4 is provided with an arcuate cut-out portion 15 so arranged that when the pin 10 is received in the aperture and the pin-carrying disc II is rotated, the plate ll will rotate therewith and be positioned above the periphery of the turn table 1.

with the spacer l4 resting upon the upper surface of the plate ll so that when both plates are rotated, the cut-out portion I5 will allow the apex formed between the artcuate scallop 8 and radial slot 9 to pass into said cut-out space and allow the pin I0 to pass into the radial slot and engage the turn table 1 to advance the turn table therewith. The cut-out space [5 will allow the apex formed by the opposite side of the radial slot 9 and contiguous scallop 8. to pass thereinto and after the pin It has passed from engagement after imparting a step to the turn table, the cylindrical.

surface of the spacing member 14 will wipe over the arcuate surface of the contiguous scallop 8 and will prevent further rotation. of the turn table until it is again engagedby the pin It.

end bearing upon the under side of the cam l9 and the other end anchored toan abutment '22 secured upon the sleeve l2. The disc H when positioned to receive the pin [0, is held with its spacing member I4 in engagement with the disc H by a coil spring 23 interposedabout the sleeve [2 between the abutment 22 and upper side of the disc H The clutch allows a sliding of the the event that the turn table becomes jammed before the, motor ceases tooperate, and preventing damage to the train of gears or the step-bystep mechanism. Thelifting of the disc .I [wont of (engagement'with. the .pin in to remove the spacing member I4 from contact with the periphery of the scalloped edge of the turn .table. will allow the turn table to be rotated independently of the step-byestep mechanism in order torefill the cabinet. 7 i .As' heretofore said,.a.coin receiving, directing, and positioning mechanism of commercial form is mounted within the casing. 2 in which the spaced-apart plates, 24 and form a part of said mechanism. As shown .in Figure 2, a coin is directed tostrike upon an anvil '26, forming a part of said commercial mechanism, and bedirected a part of the commercial mechanism, and a member. mounted upon a pivot 13-! between the plates 24and 25 which .has been added to the commercial'mechanism; This member is provided with an upper angular extension 321 and normallyheld in engagement with e the upper side of the abutment 28 by the weight-ofanextension- 33from that-sideof the 'member30-adjacent the-- pivot3l .asto cause the lower end 34 to form": the other side of-the coin chute and direct a coin passing between'the pin -21 and upper end 32 of the member 39., as shown in dotted lines, to rotate the lower end 34 of the member 30 and position and the coin to rest upon the end of the end 35 of a switch operating lever 36 andag'ainst the end 37 of a'rectractable rod 38 which projects into the path of the coin, as shown in dotted lines'in Figure 2. r r

When a coin has been received-in the position above described, and as shown in Figure 3, the rotationof the member 3| causes the'angular end 32 to restrict the space between the abutment 28 and. pin 21 so that as long as a coin remains in engagement with the switch operating lever 36 and end 31 of the rod 38, other coins deflected by the anvil 26 will strike the pin 21 and end 32 of the member 30 and-be ejected or returned to the operator, 'as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The extension 33 is provided with a pin 39 which extends through-an arcuate slot 40 provided in themechanism plate 25 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The switching mechanism operated by the lever 36 is shown'inFigures Zand 3. The lever'35 is gear M in pivoted and normally weighted by the end 4| to maintain the switch in open position with its free end 35 in position to be depressed by the weight of a, coin to close the switch, as shown in Figure 2. The switching mechanism shown includes a resilient contact member 42' adapted to be engaged by the end 4| of the operating lever 35 and is normally spaced apart from a contact member 43 whereby the depression of the end 35 of the operating lever will cause the contacts to engage and make an electrical connection, as shown in Figure 3. Referring to the schematic diagram of Figure '7, it will be seen that when this switch is closed, a circuit will be completed from the commercial line L through the wire 44, contacts 43 and 42, wire 45, through the motor M, and by wire 46 back to the commercial line L. The closing of the switch by the coin will then initiate operation of the motor which, through the train of gears, will impart a rotation to the sleeve l2 and cam-s l8 andll9 thereon. The rod 38 is bent upward from its end 31 .and' then :bent again to pass through .abracket 41 secured :upon the under side .of thehousing l to direct the end of the rod 33 to engage the surface of the .cain l8 and is preferably maintained in engagement therewith by a spring '48 surrounding the rod 38 bearin'g'at one endagainst the bracket 47 and the other against an abutment 49 upon the "rod. A second circuit connected in parallel to the first circuit is closed by a switch 50 mounted in the bracket 41 below the rod 38 to cause .a reciprocating operating member 5.! to normally engage the surface of the cam I9. Figures 7 and 8, includes spaced apart contacts 52 and 53 with wire 54 connecting contact '52 to wire and contact 53 connected by wire 55 to wire 45. .A connecting member 55 is normally held out of engagement with contacts 52 and 53 by the spring pressed plunger 5| and when the plunger 5| is depressed by the cam [9, the connection is made between contacts '52 and 53, as shown in Figure 8, establishing a parallel circuit through Ithe-motorabout open contacts 42 and 43.

The cam formation and relation of the cams t3 and 19 and pin H) is shown in Figures 5 and '6' to be such that when a coin is deposited, the end 3! of the rod 3.8 will be extended into the coin chute to retain the coin to'close the first switch, and afterthe energization of the motor has oper ated the sleeve I 2 to advance the pin H1 in the direction of the scalloped periphery of the turn table, the second switch will be closed by the cam l9 and thereafter the circuit through the first switch will be opened by the cam I 8, withdrawing theend 31 -of the rod 38 from engagement with the coin" and allowing the coin to roll off the end 35 0f the switch operating'lever 36 into a coin receptacle. After the coin has been released from the switch-operating lever 3'6Qa'nd after the pin ID has imparted-a complete step of the movement to the turn table 1, the cam i 9 will allow the second switch to open so that the motor will be de-energized and the cam 18 will again insert the end 31 of the rod 38 in the pathof the next coin to be deposited in the mechanism. v,

It is preferable to provide a brake drum 51- upon the motor shaft Hi to be engaged byan'adjustable brake member 58 to prevent coasting of the motor after the circuit has been broken from carrying the pin l0 beyonda predetermined distance so that upon nextoperation of, the motor, the pin l0 willengage theradial slot 9 the next movement to the turntable.

Means is also provided to renderthe step-by- This switch, as shown in' to impart step mechanism inoperative after the turn table has been rotated by the step-by-step mechanism to place the last article in position to be dispensed. To accomplish this, a rod 59 is mounted to rotate in a bearing provided therefor on the under side of the housing I with an end 60 bent to support an operating member 6| in the path of alug or cam 62 carried upon the turn table I in such a position that as the turn table approaches a position to dispense the last article, the abutment 62 will engage the member BI and impart a rotation to the rod 59. The other end 63 of the rod 59 is extended upwardly at an angle to the rod 59 and parallel with the adjacent face of the plate 25 to engage the under side of the pin 39 upon the extension 33 of the member 3Q when the rod 59 is rotated to lift the pin 39 and rotatethe member 35 about itspivot 31 into the position shown in Figure 3. This is the position normally assumed by the member 30 when a coin has closed the first switch, and, therefore, after the turn table has dispensed its last article, the depositing of a coin after the cabinet is empty will be deflected by the pin 21 and end 32 of the member 35, as shown in Figure 3. It is preferable to provide a stop 64 upon the plate 25 to support the end 63 of the rod 59 when the operating member (ii is in position to be engaged by the abutment 62.

It is readily seen from the above construction a that a vending machine embodying this invention will be entirely automatic; that is, whenever a coin is deposited in the aperture provided there for in the mechanism casing, an article will be dispensed from the cabinet by th operation of the electrically operated step-by-step mechanism. Furthermore, that when the last article has been dispensed, coins which may be deposited thereafter will be returned to the prospective purchaser.

Furthermore, the particular mechanism disclosed herein provides means as soon as one coin has been deposited, and been received in the coin chute for initiating operation of the step-by-step mechanism, to reject and return other coins deposited thereafter until the first .coinhas been released, and allow the next deposited coin to again operate the mechanism after it has completed one full step in the vending of an article.

Prospective purchasers sometimes place several coins in a coin-controlled mechanism, one right after the other, in the expectation that the vending machine will successively present the number of articles corresponding to the number of coins inserted. In such an event, the present invention contemplates the prevention of the possibility of coins deposited quickly one after the other from jamming the coin-controlled mechanism and will reject all coins deposited after the first one and return the coins to the prospective purchaser until the mechanism is ready to initiate another cycle. The above described step-by-step mechanism provides a very simple and positive means for locking the turn table after each operation as well as a simple means for releasing the coin which closes the first switch to initiate operation of th motor by the operation of the motor itself thereafter closing a second switch in a parallel circuit to continue the operation of the mechanism until the step initiated by the depositing of a coin hasbeen completed.

What I claim is:

1. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet having a rotatable turn tabl for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, a tiltable arm actuated by the weight of a coin thereon for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said tiltable arm, means for releasably re taining said coin on said arm, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, a second cam mounted on said driving shaft, and means including said second cam for releasing said coin from said tiltable arm and thereby permitting automatic operation of said first mentioned switch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle of operation.

2. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet having a rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, a tiltable arm actuated by the Weight of a coin thereon for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said tiltable arm, means for retaining said coin on said tiltable arm to maintain said closed circuit condition, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, a second cam mounted on said driving shaft, and means actuated by said second cam to operate said coin retaining means for releasing said coin and thereby the weight thereof from said tiltable arm for operating said first mentioned switch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle of operation.

3. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet having a rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric motor havin a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, means actuated by engagement.

of a coin therewith for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said actuating means, means for releasably retaining said coin on said actuating means, said coin directing means being movable to obstruct the path of a second coin upon engagement of a first coin with said actuating means, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, a second cam mounted on said driving shaft, and means including said second cam for releasing said coin from said actuating means and thereby permitting automatic operation of said first mentionedswitch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch'into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle of operation.

4. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet having a rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, means actuated by engagement of a coin therewith for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of sa'idelectric motor, a pivotally mounted member bounding a portion of a passage fordirecting said coin to said actuating means, means for releasably retaining said coin on said actuating means, said member occupying normally such a position as to present a free passage for a coin at the entrance to said passage and being movable to a second position to obstruct the entrance to said passage by the engagement of a coin therewith on the other side of the pivotal point thereof, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, a second cam mounted on said driving shaft, and means including said second cam for releasingsaid coin from said actuating means and therebypermitting automatic operation of said first mentioned switch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle of operation.

5. A coin actuated electrically operatedstepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet having a rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric'motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing "upon-completion of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, a tiltable arm actuated by the weight of a coin thereon for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of 7 said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said tiltable arm, a movable rod co-operating with the end of said tiltable arm for retaining the coin in position thereon, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, and a second cam mounted on said driving shaft for moving said rod out of its cooperative relation' with said tiltable arm for releasing said coin and for operating said first mentioned switch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle of operation.

6. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet having a rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom an electric motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion of'a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, means actuated by engagement of a coin therewith for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said actuating means, means for releasably retaining saidcoin on said actuating means, said directing means including spaced plates having a stationary plate and a weighted pivotal member bounding a passage therebetween, said member being normally held angularly'with respect to said station-ary plate by the weight thereof with the smallest width of the passage therebetween less than the diameter of the coin whereby the movement of a coin therethrough will pivot said member and obstruct the entrance to said passage, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, a second cam mounted on said driving shaft, and means including said second cam for releasing said coin from said actuating means and thereby permitting automatic operation of said first mentioned switch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle of operation.

7. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism for a dispensing cabinet havinga rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, a substantially horizontally extendiing pivotal arm actuated by the weight of a coin thereon for closing one of said normally open switches 'to' initiate operation of said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said pivotal arm including a pivotal member bounding one side of a substantially vertically extending passage in alignment with one end of saidpivotal arm, a movable rod in the vertical path of movement of said coin through said passage cooperating with the end of said pivotal arm for retaining said coin in position thereon, said retained coin holding said member in a pivoted position to obstruct the entrance to said passage, a cam'mounted on said driving shaft, means ac tuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, and v a second cam mounted on said driving shaft for moving said rodout of its co-operative relation with said tiltable arm. 'forreleasing said coin and for operating said first mentioned switch .into a normally open condition after said second mentioned switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned .cam operating said last men-tioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a-cycle of operation.

8. A coin actuated electrically operated stepby-step mechanism .fora dispensing cabinet havinga rotatable turn table for dispensing articles therefrom, an electric motor having a drive shaft for rotating said turn table to present said articles in position for dispensing upon completion .of a cycle of operation thereof, a pair of normally open switches connected in parallel in the motor circuit, means actuated by engagement of a coin therewith for closing one of said normally open switches to initiate operation of said electric motor, means for directing said coin to said actuating means including a pivotal member bounding one side of a passage, means for releasably retaining said coin on said actuating means, a movable rod actuated by said rotatable turn table at a predetermined position thereof for pivoting said member to a position to obstruct the entrance to said passage, a cam mounted on said driving shaft, means actuated by said cam for closing the other of said normally open switches, a second cam mounted on said driving shaft, and

means including said second cam for releasing said coin from said actuating means and thereby permitting automatic operation of said first mentioned switch into a normally open condition after said second mentioned. switch has been operated into a closed condition to maintain operation of said motor, said first mentioned cam operating said last mentioned switch into a normally open condition upon completion of a cycle 10 of operation.

ROBERT R. WITHERELL. 

